The Stolen Queen (by Fiona Davis)
Fiona Davis is one of my favorite historical fiction novelists, and one author that I have read all of her books. I have been looking forward to the release of The Stolen Queen ever since she announced it in her newsletter. I immediately placed a hold for the audiobook on Libby when my library acquired a copy. I was excited when my turn came!
The Stolen Queen is a dual-timeline narrative featuring two main characters. In 1936, Charlotte Cross, an anthropology student employed at the Valley of the Kings in Egypt, finds fulfillment in her work and experiences remarkable success. However, a tragic event transpires during her return to New York.
In 1978, Annie Jenkins is presented with an extraordinary opportunity to work for the renowned fashion editor, Diana Vreeland. Diana is organizing the prestigious Met Gala and wants Annie to be her assistant. Charlotte is also employed at the Met as the museum’s associate curator of the Department of Egyptian Art. She is conducting research on a female pharaoh, Hathorkare.
During the Met Gala, an audacious theft occurs involving Egyptian artifacts. The mystery and suspense propel Charlotte and Annie into collaboration, embarking on a quest to retrieve the stolen artifact. A journey that takes them to Egypt.
I acknowledge that I am about to express an unpopular opinion: while The Stolen Queen was enjoyable, it did not fully resonate with me as some of Fiona Davis’s other novels have. While there are many things I enjoyed about the story, it just didn’t immediately captivate my attention. It took some time for me to become fully invested in the characters and comprehend the story’s trajectory.
Upon completing the book, I reflected on the characters, Charlotte and Annie. I found their individual growth and personal insights to be engaging. I felt invested in the story as I got closer to the end, which was emotional and satisfying. Fiona clearly did a tremendous amount of research to create an interesting story. I love how she incorporated the Met and Egypt into the narrative. I respect her innovative approach of incorporating time in another country. Additionally, I thoroughly enjoyed the narration provided by Linda Jones.
In summary, I am pleased that I read the book and remain an admirer of Fiona’s work. I’m genuinely delighted that this book has already achieved New York Times bestseller status. I wish her many more successes! By the way, you can visit Fiona Davis’s website here to sign up for her newsletter.
Included below is an author event Fiona participated in with the independent bookstore, The Poisoned Pen, in Scottsdale, Arizona for The Stolen Queen.
You’re welcome to read my other reviews for books by Fiona Davis, which are linked below.
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